Short Message Service (SMS)

What are short text messages?

SMS stands for short messaging service. Essentially, each SMS message is a short text message (maximum length 160 characters) that you type into your mobile's display. You then send the message to another mobile phone number. Just about every mobile in Europe and most in Africa and Asia support SMS and can receive your messages.

The acronym can be used as both a verb and a noun, just like the word email.
("Did you SMS me yet?" and "I sent the SMS yesterday.")

Activation

All mobiles now come ready to send SMS messages. So unless your mobile is very old (you can tell by the weight, the heavier the older), you're phone is ready to go. The Motorola 7500, the Ericsson GH 318, and the Nokia 1610 series are not able to send SMS messages.

Writing an SMS

Just use your phone's menu (consult the manual) to get to the writing screen. Then enter the message using your keypad. Each button represents multiple characters. For example, the number 2 lets you type the letters A, B, and C, as well as the number 2. Pushing a button more than once within a second gives you the next character. If you need to type two characters using the same button, just wait a second for the first character to establish itself. The best way to learn is to pick up your phone and practice.

Once you are adept, check your phone's manual for predictive text options. By guessing what words you're going to write, this function can cut the time it takes to write a message by at least half.

Sending an SMS

When you've written your message, use your menu to get the dialing screen. Type in the number or use your mobile's address book to insert a number. Always use the international dialing format (+420 for the Czech Republic).

Delivering the Message

If your phone refuses to send the first SMS, check that the SMS center number has been entered into your phone's SMS set-up. Use the manual to find out where to input the number (+420 602 909 909) or stop by one of our stores and have the customer support specialist give you a hand.

Once a message leaves your phone, it travels to the SMS center, also known as the SMS gate. The center then tries to send your message on to the phone number. If successful (as it almost always is), it gives you a short note saying so. Because delivery almost never fails, even to unused mobile numbers, always be sure you use the most up-to-date numbers.

Short text messages to and from abroad

Sending SMS messages from abroad works just like sending them from within the Czech Republic. Before you travel, call *11 to be sure you have activated roaming . Roaming makes your phone operational in just about every European country and a great many African ones. However, though O2 has agreements with operators in more than 110 countries, not all phones work in all places. For example, most mobiles purchased in Europe operate at 900 Mhz and/or 1800 Mhz, but mobiles in the US operate at 1900 Mhz. Therefore, few European mobiles work in the United States, and vice-versa.

Activating text services

If for some reason SMS is not activated on your phone, you can have it switched on by calling *11 and following the voice menu or by talking with a customer care representative. (If it isn't working, check the SMS set-up menu to be sure the number for the SMS gate has been properly entered.)